When I looked in the rear-view mirror, I saw him. The full-size truck flashed his lights. I was in the right-hand lane and driving the speed limit. There was no traffic in the left lane, perhaps he didn’t know that was called the ‘passing lane.’

As he raced around me, cutting back in front of me, I raised my hand and made a circular motion with my index finger toward him.

From the back seat, I heard my grandson say, “Grandpa, what does that (imitating the motion) mean?”

Oops.

I told him it was the way grownups say “nana nana boo boo” – but I was thinking how I wished I could take it back. Too late for that.

****

An employee came to my office with a question and I didn’t even look up. I was busy and though he knew I was aware of his presence, I let him stand there, ignored.

When I finally looked up, he had gone.

Oops.

Why had I done that? I was thinking how I wished I could take it back. Too late for that.

****

I took my grandson to a fun night at his school where they held a dance contest. He spent 90 minutes running around the perimeter of the gym, dragging me with him, and throwing himself down on the floor, flopping like a fish. When the winners of the dance contest were announced, he was broken-hearted. “Why did the bigger kids win? I wanted to win the dance contest.” I told him, “But you weren’t dancing.”

“But I was dancing, grandpa,” he cried.

Oops.

He thought what he was doing qualified as dancing, I was thinking how I wished I could take it back. Too late for that.

****

As I drove into the fast food parking lot, a woman pulled out in front of me. I mouthed, “Moron.” She saw me and was noticeably upset.

I thought – who knows what kind of day she had experienced, and I just made it worse.

Oops.

She did not direct her rudeness specifically at me, but I directed my rudeness toward her, I was thinking how I wished I could take it back. Too late for that.

****

I told my grandson that grownups should not say “nana nana boo boo.” I told him I was wrong to do that, it was rude.

I went to the warehouse to find the employee who had stood in my office doorway. I told him that I was sorry that I didn’t respond to him and asked him what he needed.

I asked my grandson to dance with me, to show me his moves that he was doing on the dance floor. He wore me out, but we had a great time.

I prayed that the Lord would touch the heart of the woman I had called a name. Although I could not identify her, he knew who she was.

****

I apologized to Jesus for my ‘oops’ moments, and each one I mentioned brought one more to mind. It took a long time, and brought tears to my eyes. I was surprised at how I had behaved so many times.

My heart ached for my insensitive actions, both intentional and unintentional. I asked the Lord to help me be more aware of what I said and how I said it.

When I got up from my knees, I patted my dog, kissed my wife and made a phone call to my mom. Sometimes, the best way to avoid an ‘oops’ moment is to not give them an opportunity to arise.

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